The Color Purple By Alice Walker

Monday, February 28, 2011

In the Color Purple, Celie's relationship with Alphonso stays constant throughout the exposition, rising action, climax and resolution. Alphonso in the beginning is the abuser much like Mr.___ but the difference is, Alphonso never changes. In the beginning he is the abuser, and at the end he is still the abuser. She was treated very harshly by Alfonso and was often raped. Later on in the book, Celie learns that Alphonso is actual the stepfather who the sisters think is their real father.

The symbol of their relationship is the act of stabbing by a knife. “He beat me today cause he say I winked at a boy in church. I may have got somethin in my eye but I didn’t wink. I don’t even look at mens.” Being stabbed by a knife represents how scar tissue is developed once that wound heals. The relationship between Celie and Alphonso is abusing from beginning to end, much like scar tissue will stay with you from beginning to end.

The relationship that Celie and Alphonso share is significant because it sets Celie as the main character that struggles throughout the book. While she is put through the bad experiences of Alphonso, she overcomes this abusing character and becomes the complete opposite of what Alphonso made her into, a strong independent woman.

In the exposition, Celie is envious and jealous of Sofia’s strong character. She can stand up to any man, and she refuses to have her freedoms taken away by Harpo. Because Celie is jealous of Sofia, she advises Harpo, the husband, to beat Sofia. With this, Sofia puts down Celie on how she is weak and submissive. Celie and Sofia's relationship at this point is important because in this instant, Sofia challenges Celie to be a stronger individual.

In the Rising action, Celie and Sofia come to support each other. Their relationship improves because Celie finds out why Harpo is eating so much, something that Sofia does not know. She figures out that Harpo is eating so much so he can be bigger than Sofia and establish his dominance over her. Celie finds out because she is worried about Sofia. Sofia and Harpo seperate after this because Sofia can no longer take the beatings.

In the Climax, the two become closer because now they are on the same level. Sofia is a prisoner and she is degraded as a person. She is not herself anymore and she says that she is like Miss Celie now. Through this Celie realizes that she can’t be submissive anymore. No woman can thrive if she is submissive as can be seen in the case of Sofia who was a completely changed person. This is a factor that helps give Celie the strength to strive to be a more stronger person.

In the resolution, their relationship is even further improved because when Albert and Celie have a family dinner where Sofia is present, Celie curses out Albert and what he has done to her. Celie curses Albert for his abuse all these years and for his act of hiding the letters. Sofia comes to appreciate Celie at this point in the book because for once, Celie stands up for herself, something that she was never capable of in the beginning of the book. In a sense, Celie was acting like Sofia in this event.

An appropriate symbol for the relationship shared by Celie and Sofia is empowerment. Throughout the book, Sofia is a role model to Celie because she is so strong willed. She will not let any man or woman bring her down. On the other hand, Celie is just the opposite, she is submissive and men have brought her character down. Sofia is a primary example of strong character and in the family dinner season, with all the gained confidence that she obtains from other characters such as Shug, she emulates Sofia and curses out Albert for all the wrong he has done in the relationship. "You a low down dog is what's wrong, I say. It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need."(199)

In the exposition, the reader learns that Celie’s children are taken away from her by her father and killed in the forests. (later this is not the case) At this point, her relationship with her children is hard to say. She had an emotional attachment to her children and this became more evident when that void in her heart made by her children was filled by Nettie.

In the rising action, Celie meets a baby girl in a shop that she suspects is her daughter.

As can be seen by Celie’s actions, she recognizes her daughter right away. She still has an emotional attachment to her daughter. She is curious as to where Corrine and the Reverend Samuel got her. She knows by her motherly instincts that this is Olivia and this is even confirmed by Corrine.

In the climax of the story, Celie is still emotionally attached to her children but she finally feels a sense of love for them, knowing that they are her biological children. Though they are legally Samuel and Corrine's baby, in the climax she starts to show a sense of ownership with “her” kids. She refers to Olivia and Adam as her kids, and so does Nettie.

In the resolution, Celie can now play a role in her children’s life now that they share a physical relationship, rather than just an emotional one. The Children no more will be distant from her.

The Relationship symbolizes reunion. Celie, and her children from the very beginning of the book were separated. She only learns of their existence through Nettie in a series of letters. Throughout these letters, the reader can start to tell that she is more and more getting emotionally attached. She loves her children and this is what gives Celie the hope to live through her miserable life, the chance to get to see Nettie and the Children once again. In the end, Celie is reunited with her children. “Thank you for bringing my sister Nettie and our children home.”(285)

•In the exposition, the relationship between Celie and Mr.______ is forced. It is obvious that there is really no feelings behind this relationship whatsoever. After all, Mr.____ wanted to marry Nettie. The relationship was only necessary for Mr.___ to have a wife that would take care of the children and fill in the domestic role that was expected of women. She was the laborer, the source of work, and also the source of pleasure for Mr.____.

•In the rising action, the relationship is further strained. Celie learns of the hidden letters that Mr._____ has been hiding from her. She is very angry with Mr.______ and their relationship at this point goes down hill. She curses at Mr.____ while having a family dinner.

•Celie and and Shug have moved on from Mr.___’s place. Her relationship with Mr.___ is still there in the sense that she will always feel the abuse that Mr.____ has subjected her to, but she is finally away from Mr.__’s confinement and way of life.

• In the resolution, Celie and Mr.____ are brought together once again at the end by there connection with Shug. Mr.___ at this point comes to the sense that what he has been doing is wrong. The relationship further improves when Mr._____ gives back all of Nettie’s letters to Celie. In the end they become good friends and learn to respect each other.

The symbol that symbolizes this relationship is the act of sewing. Sewing can be an act of repairing a garment much like how the relationship is repaired in the end. It shows that with effort, any situation, a relationship or garment can be repaired at its worst with the necessary time and effort. "Sitting on the porch with Albert... feel real pleasant...us plan a big family reunion..."(285)

The relationship between Celie and Albert is significant because it shows that through human perserverance, anyone can spring up from abuse, and empower themselves, even the person who commits the abuse. As can be seen throughout the book, Albert is largely taught by his father that women are only good for their role as a woman, not for their love. Albert is taught this and this is the only thing he knows of woman now. His love for Shug before was a relationship of love. As can be seen from the past, Albert was capable of love, but his father erased this quality from him. It is unfortunate that Celie was Alberts next bride in this transformation of his personality because if this weren’t the case, Celie would have been in a loving, fostering relationship much like Shug was with Albert years ago. At the end, both people in the relationship are empowered. They learn to give up Shug, the very person that was bonding them together, and give eachother a try. At the end, they become not lovers, but friends. From a relationship of abuse to friends, is a large transformation and this transformation is what empowers the two

In the Exposition of The Color Purple, the relationship between Celie and Shug begins purely from a picture. With this picture, Celie for the first time feels attraction and love towards another human being other than Nettie. She can now refer to something as beautiful and this is a large stepping stone from her emotionless state largely caused by the men in her life.

In the Rising action, Celie also makes out in her head what Shug is like as a person. When Shug and Celie first meet, Shug is nothing like what Celie had made her out to be. Shugs first words that came out of her mouth were “you sure is ugly” to Celie. Despite this, they get to know each other more and they grow closer to one another. Celie opens up to Shug and Shug finds out the true nature of Mr.___ and Celie’s marriage. She sees how Celie is really treated by Mr._____ and grows closer to Celie in this part of the book.

In the Climax, Celie and Shug exhibit a lesbian relationship. As can be seen with the two sucking on eachothers breast, they share a very close relationship that is more than just sex. To Celie, her relationship with Shug is important because Shug makes her feel important. She gives Celie a sense of identity and also makes her feel sexually, physically, and emotionally more comfortable. Shug helps Celie get out of her emotionless state.

In the resolution of The Color Purple, Celies relationship with Shug seems to become strained. This is not the case though. Although Shug has her eye on another man, Germaine, she still loves Celie. Similarly, Celie loves Shug as much as she did before Germaine came along. There ability to love eachother even after Shug is sexually involved with another person shows the extent of their love. Celie although dreading Shug and Germaine’s relationship, cares enough for Shug to let her live a little.

•Symbol:motherhood, mentor

•Shug acts like a mother to Celie because she is the primary reason why Celie gains a sense of self identity and importance in the book. Through Shugs, mentoring and love, Celie was able to grow into an independent self thinking individual. Celie is now a stronger person because of Shug's influence.

Self Identity: "This song I'm bout to sing is call Miss Celie's song."(73) Shug gives Celie a sense of self identity. She names her after a song.

Celie and Shug’s relationship is very significant because it helps Celie the weak, submissive girl grow into the independent free thinking woman by the end of the book. The relationship Shug and Celie had made Celie feel important. The relationship boosted Celie’s confidence, and empowered her to be that independent woman.

In the exposition of The Color Purple, Celie shares a sisterly love with Nettie. The interesting thing about this love between the two is that Celie also acts like a mother figure to Nettie. This is made evident by the void that is left in Celie's heart when her babies are taken away from her. When her babies are taken away from her by her father, she can no longer be a mother. Nettie fills this void and Celie feels like she has an obligation to care for Nettie. In Celie’s mind, Nettie comes first. Celie cares so much for Nettie that she will even send Nettie off to marry another man just so Nettie can avoid the sexual brutalization that Celie experiences.

In the Rising action of The Color Purple, Celie and Nettie become ever more closer than they were before, and the reader starts to see that Celie and Nettie really care for eachothers welfare. At this point of the book, Nettie and Celie are already separated. Celie is given away to Mr.___ (Albert) and she is the primary source for taking care of the family. Celie is the laborer, the cook, the source of care for the children, and the source of pleasure for Albert. Nettie runs away from her fathers house and she is unexpectedly reunited with Celie. Nettie helps with the day to day chores that Mr.___ assigns Celie and also helps Celie with her studies and reading skills. Celie appreciates how much Nettie believes in her. As is evident, Celie and Nettie share an unbreakable love for eachother.

In the Climax of The Color Purple, there is a bit of a twist in the relationship between Celie and Nettie. At this point in the book, Nettie has been kicked out of Mr.____’s house for cursing and fighting back his attempt to rape her. Because of this incident, Mr.___ promises to Nettie that he will sever there communication and that she will never hear from Celie again. The story goes on and as Nettie promised, she writes to Celie frequently. The problem is, Celie is not receiving any of these letters. Later on in the book, Celie discovers a hidden pile of letters from Nettie. Celie and Nettie connect through these letters. These hidden letters serve as a bridge to their love for one another. Even though they are not physically together, they are emotionally and spiritually together. This is the extent of their relationship during the climax.

In the Resolution of The Color Purple, Celie and Nettie’s emotional and spiritual relationship is brought to an end. At first Celie learns of the sinking of the boat Nettie was on. She can’t believe that Nettie is dead because she still feels Nettie spiritually and emotionally. At the end of the book, this theory that Nettie sank along with the boat turns out to be false. They are reunited once again and now can share an actual relationship without physical restraint.

The relationship between Celie and Nettie is very significant. Celie’s relationship with Nettie is the force that drives her to become a more independent free thinking and smarter person. Nettie’s letters give Celie valuable lessons, and most importantly, hope, something that she needed to get her through life. Celie saw in Nettie hope and this is why she sacrificed herself to live with Mr.____ . In Celie’s eyes Nettie could be spared of all the abuses and have a chance at becoming a teacher. Nettie was smart, she was pretty, she had a decent chance to become someone. Celie was ugly, and she wasn’t as educated.

Throughout The Color Purple, Celie knew this, and with her new hope, she could one day hope to be with her kids and in Nettie’s shoes.

Symbol: Sisterhood

The symbol of sisterhood is an appropriate symbol because Nettie and Celie share a loving relationship throughout the whole story, even though they are not physically together through the whole story, their love for one another is present throughout. At no point in the story did one another hate eachother or lose hope in seeing each other once again. Celie deeply cares for her sister and puts her first acting as the mother. Nettie, discouraged from her letters not getting to Celie does not lose hope in trying to communicate with Celie. She continues to write even though she knows in reality that these letters would probably not get to Celie. “I ast him to take me instead of Nettie…”(7)